Ceratandra harveyana

Ceratandra harveyana Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 365 (1838).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Evota harveyana (Lindl.) Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 269 (1913).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Ceratandra affinis Sond., Linnaea 19: 108 (1846).
Evota affinis (Sond.) Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 270 (1913).
Description:
An erect glabrous herb, 7-17 cm. high; stem flexuous, remotely leafy, the leaves erect linear-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, loosely sheathing at base, 1,5-3 cm long, the radical ones 3-7, linear, attaining 3 cm. in length; spike somewhat densely 3-11 fl., the flowers erect-spreading; bracts herbaceous, broadly ovate, acuminate or acute, shorter than or more rarely as long as the ovary; lateral sepals spreading concave oblong-obovate, 1-1,2 cm. long; odd sepal resupinate concave lanceolate obtuse, loosely cohering with the petals, as long as the lateral sepals; petals clawed, the limb obliquely rotundate, margin crenulate, as long as the odd sepal; limb of the lip deltoid-hastate acute, tuberculate above, 0,4 cm. long, the appendix much larger, contracted at the base and somewhat quadrate, dilated upwards into two arms, reflexed at the apex into two wide folds covering the stigma; arms of the rostellum broad auriculate; stigma bilobed; ovary 1-1,2 cm. long.
Habitat:
In fynbos in sandy, wet soils and flower only after a fire sweeps the grassland at elevations of 50 to 650 meters.
Phenology:
Flowering from November to December - mostly after fire
Distribution:
SW. Cape Prov.
References:
Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 3, page 3, (1913) Author: (By R. A. ROLFE.); The phylogeny and evolution of the Pterygodium—Corycium complex (Coryciinae, Orchidaceae) H. Kurzweil, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Vol. 175, No. 3/4 (1991), pp. 161-223; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982; Orchids of Southern Africa Linder & Kurzweil 1999
Images:
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Habitat/In situ

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